Spends its days roosting in dense tree canopy or caves, emerging at night to hunt possums and gliders with near-silent flight.
VIC: Vulnerable; NT: Endangered
Sensitive species — location data may be restricted
Indigenous: Sooty Owl
At a glance
FamilyBarn-Owls
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatThis handsome species inhabits rainforest, wet eucalypt forest, and surrounding habitats.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from January to May.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Zebedee Muller
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
6857approx records
2states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Its pale feet seem too large for its body. The northern subspecies is smaller and paler.
Behavior
Roosts by day in dense canopy or caves and emerges after dark to hunt possums, gliders, and other vertebrate prey.
Gallery
Regional timing
New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
Australian Capital Territory
Commonly confused with
Australian Masked-OwlTyto novaehollandiaeVariable in size and color, ranging from larger, browner birds in Tasmania through to smaller, paler birds in northwestern Australia. This species is generally larger, darker, larger-legged, and more heavily spotted than Barn Owl.→Australasian Grass-OwlTyto longimembrisTan-brown overall with black, white, and orange mottling on the wings. Flies low over grassy areas, primarily during dawn and dusk, often with long legs dangling. Heart-shaped facial disk, very similar to Barn Owl and Masked Owls.→